Sadiron



Sept. 29, 1936. w. K. TAVENDER SADIRON Filed Feb. 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTOR EYS Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE sA'nmoN V v Walter K. lavender, Haworth, N. J. vApplication February 17, 1934, Serial No. 711,687

7 Claims.

My invention relates to electrically heated steam irons and the principal objector my inven-- tion is to provide a steam iron construction comprising a base portion having a plurality of steam passage bores drilled therein to form steam passages so arranged that steam may be appreciably superheated in certain of the passages before it is introduced into other passages from which it is discharged at the pressing surface of the iron, and means for regulating and controlling a flow of steam between such superheating and other passages.

Another object is to provide a sad ironconstruction having primary means, comprising a v steam chest, for superheatingsteam, secondary means for further superheatingor maintaining the temperature of the steam before it is discharged from the iron, and means for regulating and controlling a flow of steam between said primary and secondary means.

A further object is to provide a steam iron having a manually operable valve with improved adjustable means for limiting the movements of the valve, thereby insuring-againstan excessive flow of steam from the iron and permitting the valve to be held open a fixed degree to allow a con-, stant and steady minimum flow of steam thru the iron.

A further object is to provide improved means for regulating a flow of steam into, the iron. A further object is to provide convenientmeans for cleaning out the steam passages ofzthe iron, and other and further objects will appear from the.

3 following specification.

of this specification: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a steam 'iron embodying the features of my invention and Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrates the structure of the manually operable valve employed to regulate and co trol a flow of steam thru the iron, as 4 well as th adjustable means for limiting the movements of the valve.

Figure 4 is a Iragmental view in partial section taken on-line (-4 of Figure 2 and further illusthe movements or the valve. a

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6. is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5. a

- Figure 10. A plurality of small drilled steam dis- Referring to the drawings which form a part Figure 3 is a view in partial section taken on I trates the adjustable means employed to limit Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-'| of Figure 6. g .Figure 8 is a plan view of the one piece base portion of the iron. I

Figure '9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 8, and p 1 Figure 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 9 and illustrates the arrangement of the boreswhich form the principal steam passages in the base of the iron.

Figure 11 illustrates the restriction pieces employed to-regulate a flow of steam into the iron.

l5 indicates the base of the iron which comprises a casting having a pressing surface l6 formed on its underside and a recess formed in 15 its upper surface over the area ll to receive an electric heating element, not shown. A steam chamber or chest i8 is cored or otherwise internally formed in the base rearward of the recessi 1 and extends transversely of the butt and of the base casting. A vertical wall l9 partially divides the steam chest, and the floor of the chest is slightly elevated on opposite sides of the wall I9, all as best illustrated in Figures 5 and 8.

.A plurality of steam passages are drilled in the base casting in'a plane below thesteamchamber I8 and comprise a passage 20, formed by the converging bores2ll and 20' which extend forwardly from the butt end of the base. A sun-V ilar passage 2| is formed by the convergingfbores 2i and 2|, and a third passage is provided by the intercommunicating bores 22, 22, 22, 22 22, and 22 Closure pieces 2323 etc. and 24-24 etc. plug each of the bores as illustrated in charge outlets 25-25 etc., are drilled inthe base casting and extend from bores 22, 22 22, and 22 to the pressing surface l6 of the iron. Steam inlet passage 26 and passages 21, 28, 29, and 30 are formed by drilling from the upper surface of the base casting and extend in communication with thebores 20, 20 22, 2|, and 2|", respectively. The passages 21 and 29 are plugged above the chamber l8, as illustrated, and it will be noted that the passage 28 extends thru the partitionwalllil.

The passage 30 leads to a valve 33, the casing 34 of which is securely attached to the base unit by a screw .35 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The valve- 33 is of conventionalcone construction and is operable against the resistance of aspring 36 by means of lever 31 to control a flow of steam from the passage into a passage 38 formed in the valve casing. 'The passage 3,8 of the valve casing is in registered communication with the upper end of passage 28 thru which steam may be admitted to the passage bore 22*.

From the description thus far given, it may be understood that steam entering the bore 20 5 thru the inlet passage 26 will flow thru the passages 20 and 21 into the steam chamber l8. Also that steam will flow from the steam chamber thru passages 21, 2|, and 30 to the valve 33 and from the valve to the pressing surface of the iron via the passages 38 and 28 and the bores 22 22', etc., leading to. the outlets 25.

A cover 40 serves to enclose the electric heating element in the recess ll of the base, is perforate to accommodate the electric terminals connected in attachment plug 4| and carries a heat regulating switch 42. This cover, together with the iron handle 43, is securely attached to V the base casting by means of machine screws 44 and 44'. An arm 45 is also secured by screw 44 and extends beneath and beyond the valve control lever 31. Mounted on the free end of the arm 45 is a pillar 46 having a pair of adjustable abutments 41 and 41 threaded thereon. The lever 31 is formed of fiat resilient metal, is bowed 25 as shown, and is normally positioned between the abutments, whereby its vertical movements may be limited. When it is not desired to use the abutments in operating the valve, the lever 31 maybe sprung inwardly toward the handle to avoid striking the abutments, as illustrated in Figure 4, and may then be actuated to operate the valve throughout its entire range of movement.

The base is formed adjacent the inlet passage 26 to receive thedetachable coupling of steam supply line 32, as illustrated in Figure '7. The coupling is of conventional construction and comprises nipples 50 and 5| adapted to be held together by a collar 52 which threads onto the outer end of nipple 50. Between the elements of the coupling I insert a disc or washer 55 which is perforate over a predetermined area to restrict a fiow of steam entering the iron.

In use the heating element is placed in operation and a flow of steam, restricted by the perforate disc 55, .is' led thru passage'26 into the passage 20. In flowing thru the passage 20 the steam is initially superheated in contact with the heated passage walls and, in reversing its course at the junction of the bores 20 and 20 ,water vapor carried by the steam is broken up and converted into steam. The steam is then led into the passage 2| thru passage 21, chamber l8 and passage 29 to obtain a further superheating and further reduction in the moisture content thereof. On reaching the end of passage 2|, being the rearward end of bore 2 l the steam flows thru the passage 30 to thevalve 33 in a hot and substantially dry condition before it is intro- 80 duced into the passages 38 and 28.

Positioned as described, the valve-is operable to control the discharge of steam from the superheating passages rather than the introduction of steam into the iron, as has heretofore been the practice in irons of this type, and by its use the steam may be held in the superheating passages for a variable time by the operator to insure that steam flowing from the iron will be discharged in a proper condition, depending upon the character of the material being pressed. In

Although I have devised the chamber l8 in the base to serve primarily as a means for conducting the steam between the superheating passages 2'0 and 2|, I have found that, located and formed as illustrated, the chamber serves to afford substantial advantages as a steam chest or expansion chamber and provides a large area of relatively heavy hot wall in contact with the steam.

In using steam irons of this general character, it is necessary that they be operated differently in pressing different fabrics. For illustration, some fabrics scorch more readily than do others; thick fabrics require that a larger volume of steam be discharged to penetrate them than do thin fabrics; and there are many delicate cloths which are stained by any water which may condense and discharge at the pressing surface of the iron.

It is to reduce the degree of care required and to guard against costly accidents that I have provided the adjustable abutments 41 and 41' to limit'the movements of the valve control lever 31, as well as the restriction pieces, such as 55, to limit the flow of steam into the iron. The abutment 41 may be adjusted on the pillar 46 and employed to hold the valve open a predetermined degree, thus providing a constant minimum flow of steam from the iron; whereas the abutment 41' may be similarly adjusted and employed to limit a maximum discharge of steam.

When the abutment stops are not used, the restriction disc 55 prevents a flow of steam into the iron greater than can be properly superheated by the iron in case the valve is held fully open. Since this, again, is a variable quantity, depending upon the volume and temperature of steam required for the particular fabric, and also upon the degree of heat being generated in the iron, I provide a plurality of restriction discs, 55, 55 etc., each having a difierently sized aperture, any one of which may be inserted in the supply line coupling.

To facilitate cleaning of the steam passages, I have provided removable closure pieces which thread into certain of the bores, such as the Allen head screws 24 illustrated in Figure l0,the 010- sure pieces 23 being the usual permanent plugs. To clean out the passages, a fluid detergent or boiler compound is introduced into the passages and thereafter thepieces 24 are removed and the .fiuid evacuated.

of the base portion because it providesa sturdier construction in which overhanging parts are eliminated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A steam iron comprising a base portion formed with a pressing surface on its underside and a plurality of steam discharge outlets formed in said base portion and extending to the pressing surface thereof, means for conducting steam thru the iron to said outlets, and a valve for controlling a flow of steam thru the iron, a lever for manually operating said valve, and adjustable means for limiting movement of said'lever; said lever limiting means comprising a pillar carried by the iron and extending transversel for said lever, and a justable on said pillar on opposite sides of saidaouaeve of said lever and an abutment on said pillar in the path of lever movement, said levercomprising a strip of resilient metal adapted to be sprung out of its normal path to avoid said abutment.

2. A' steam iron comprising a base portion formed with a pressing surface on its underside and a plurality of steam discharge outlets formed in said base portion and extending to the pressing surface thereof, means for conducting steam thru the iron to said outlets, and a valve for controlling a flow of steam thru the iron, a lever for manually operating said valve, and adjustable means for limiting movements of said lever; said lever limiting means comprising: a pillar carried by the iron and extending transversely pair of abutment pieces adlever in the path of lever movement; said lever comprising a strip of resilient metal adapted to be sprung out of its normal path to avoid said abutment pieces.

3. A steam iron comprising a base formed with a pressing surface on its underside, a heater carried by the iron above said pressing surface and a cover overlying and housing theheater, said base having passage means formed therein for conducting steam to said pressing surface and a valvefor controlling a flow of steam therethru, said base being extended rearwardly of said heater and cover, and saidvalve being mounted on the rearwardly extended portion of the base.

4. A sad iron comprising a base portion formed with a pressing surface on its underside, a heater carried by the iron above said pressing surface, said base portion having two steam passages formed therein each extending forwardly from the rear of the iron and returning rearwardly, means for connecting said passages in series, said base portion having a third passage formed therein and a plurality of steam discharge outlets extending from said third passage to said pressing surface, and means comprising a valve.

for conducting steam from the last passage in series into said' third passage, said passages extending longitudinally in the same horizontal plane.

5. A steam iron comprising a base formed with a' pressing surface on its underside,-a heater carried by the iron above said pressing surface and a cover overlying the heater, said base having passage means formed therein for conducting steam to said pressing surface and a valve for controlling a flow of steam therethl'u, said base extending rearwardly of said heater and cover and said valve being mounted on the rearwardly extending portion of the base, a lever for manually operating said valve extending forwardly over said cover, a pillar extending above the cover transversely of said lever, and an abutment on said pillar in the path of lever movement, said lever comprising a strip of resilient metal adapted to be sprung out of its normal path to avoid said abutment.

formed in the base portion and extending from said outlet passage to the pressing surface, means for connecting the other passages in series, and means comprising a valve for conducting steam from the last passage in series into said outlet Passage.

'I. A sad iron comprising a base portion formed with a pressing surface on its underside, a heater carried by the iron above said pressing surface, said base portion having a plurality of steam passages formed therein and extending longitudinally in the same horizontal plane forwardly from the rear of the iron and returning rearwardly, one of said passages being an outlet passage, a plurality of steam discharge outlets formed in the base portion and extending from said outlet passage to the pressing surface, means comprising a'chamber near the rear end of the base portion for. connecting, the other passages in series, and means comprising a valve for conducting steam from said chamber into said out-: a let passage.

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